\"quitaban el seguro\" de su amparo

English translation: they had effectively "pulled the plug" on his protection

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Spanish term or phrase:"quitaban el seguro" de su amparo
English translation:they had effectively "pulled the plug" on his protection
Entered by: James A. Walsh

21:25 Oct 3, 2016
Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters / In A Novel
Spanish term or phrase: \"quitaban el seguro\" de su amparo
Context (the protagonist, who has been wrongly accused, is about to be transferred to another prison, under the pretext that there has just been a bomb scare at the one where she's currently housed):

Pero, después, se le congeló la sangre cuando agregó que la tranferirían, argumentando que ese ya no era un lugar seguro. Entonces, entendió lo creativos eran sus acusadores, porque con eso "quitaban el seguro" de su amparo.

Mil Gracias,

Barbara
Barbara Cochran, MFA
United States
Local time: 22:11
they had effectively "pulled the rug" from under his protection
Explanation:
Or words to that effect.

Meaning he was ******, basically! :)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2016-10-03 23:03:00 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

"Pulled the RUG" in the English example sentence...!

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 4 days (2016-10-07 22:17:13 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

Or to be a bit more contemporary: they had effectively "pulled the plug" on his protection.
Selected response from:

James A. Walsh
Spain
Local time: 03:11
Grading comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +1with that, they nullified any warranties of legal protection for her
JohnMcDove
4they had effectively "pulled the rug" from under his protection
James A. Walsh
1taken the safety off the writ of protection
miguelortiz


Discussion entries: 2





  

Answers


5 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
with that, they nullified any warranties of legal protection for her


Explanation:

In Spanish they seem to be playing with the expression "quitar el seguro" in the sense of "unlocking the safety pin" of a gun..., and the actual meaning, which is to be able to avoid any possibility of defense... (or at least, there is a nuance of that sense.)

You could go figurative, and say "with that they withdrew any safety net that could possibly save/protect her".

In other words, the accusers will take away any protection she could have there.

Creo que "por ahí van los tiros"... (tiros legales... ;-)

Saludos cordiales.

JohnMcDove
United States
Local time: 19:11
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in category: 21

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Wendy Streitparth: Like the idea of safety net.
10 hrs
  -> Thank you Wendy. Yes, I like it too. :-)
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

22 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 1/5Answerer confidence 1/5
taken the safety off the writ of protection


Explanation:
Just guessing.

miguelortiz
United States
Local time: 22:11
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in SpanishSpanish
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
"quitaban el seguro" de su amparo
they had effectively "pulled the rug" from under his protection


Explanation:
Or words to that effect.

Meaning he was ******, basically! :)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2016-10-03 23:03:00 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

"Pulled the RUG" in the English example sentence...!

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 4 days (2016-10-07 22:17:13 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

Or to be a bit more contemporary: they had effectively "pulled the plug" on his protection.

Example sentence(s):
  • '.., porque con eso "quitaban el seguro" de su amparo.'
  • '.., because, with this move, they had effectively "pulled the carpet" from under his protection.'
James A. Walsh
Spain
Local time: 03:11
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in category: 94
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.


See also:
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search